Tracey Childs

Finally, George Bush and John McCain act as if the country is in a financial crisis. A few short months ago, I remember reading articles where both stated (I’m not quoting…simply putting their statements in my own words) everything was fine and Americans were worried for no reason. I believe one of them may have even implied that it was all in our heads. Well, it wasn’t in my head. Over the summer I knew someone who lost his job because his company couldn’t afford to keep his office open. I also knew a family whose house went into forclosure. And we’ve all heard countless people complain about the price of gas. I had a student who didn’t want to drive his car to a service project because he couldn’t afford to put any extra gas in his car than was absolutely necessary. And le’t not even talk about how much more expensive it is to buy simple items like milk and eggs. So, no sirs! It is not in my head. For those who are not wealthy, the financial crisis has been a reality for months. For those in poverty, it’s been a reality for generations.

Lawmakers are in Washington today trying to put together a “bailout” plan. Whatever is decided, I hope people who really need the help are the ones who will be assisted.

When I signed on to meebo this evening, a dialogue box opened. The blogger had written about sports fans in his office. So, I thought it would be a good journal entry for my class this week. I have many sports memories, so I don’t think I can come up with my favorite. I can, however, tell you what my favorite is not…the Auburn-Miss State game this past Saturday. I don’t know how long it’s going to take for Auburn’s new offense to get it together, but it needs to happen before Saturday. Saturday, after all, is only one of the biggest games of the season…LSU. I don’t know what Koby Burns did or who he pissed off, but I hardly think Todd’s performance warrants him to be our starting QB. I also know that year after year, Auburn’s offensive pride has be with its backs, so I am also not quite sure why we’re deviating from our A-game. What I do know is that we better get it together. I’ve never been a Tubby fan, but I was starting to give him his respect. I’d hate for him and me to have to start all over.

It’s the fall semester, and so the first year students are on campus and in full gear. In their first week, most of them have moved into the residence halls, started classes, and survived their first hurricane scare. And now that they’re resettling into things, I’ve asked my English students to write a journal entry about their goals. I told them the goals can be long term or short, but the point of the exercise is to get them writing. And in the process, they may learn something about themselves. Plus, I need to think about my goals too. Professionally, I have to submit goals to my superviser  by the middle of this month. And I have several things I want to do by the end of the year. I just have to  be careful to not be too optomistic…I’m one person and need to be realistic about what I can accomplish. Personally, I’m making goals to help me transition from a stay-at-home-mom to a working mom. I know they sound simple, but it’s a goal to get up every morning at 6:00 and be out of the house by 7. It’s a goal to not talk on the cell phone on the ride home. By mid-october, I’ll revisit my goals to see how I’m doing. Hopefully I will have accomplished some things and be a more productive mom and employee.